Showing posts with label tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tea. Show all posts

Monday, March 19, 2012

A Return To Loveliness

Posted by MAKMU ta On Monday, March 19, 2012

Welcome Spring


The days when the soft morning air holds 
just enough warmth to embrace our hearts
 with expectation are upon us. 



The song of the birds and
 the fragrance of the flowers
 greet us to welcome our presence
 in the glory that is spring.



The sweeping branches of the Bridal Wreath Spirea
 give homage to the soft billowy snowflakes 
that decorate the winter’s landscape.



The gentle flower, the green of the apple
 and the Jadeite vase are symbolical
 of the transition from one season to another.



In springtime, change comes every day
 – an early morning walk
 with a soothing cup of tea
 is a wonderful way to start the day.



What a glorious gift – spring.



A Delightsome Return to Loveliness is all around us

.A Return to Loveliness is a blog party I host each week. 
To Join
simply create, publish and link your post to this blog party.
Please link the URL specific to your post, link back to
this blog party in your post and visit as many other participants

Wishing you a most Delightsome first day of Spring!



Monday, January 9, 2012

Teatime

Posted by MAKMU ta On Monday, January 09, 2012

A Year Celebrating Tea

And

Friendship


I was so impressed by Sherry’s post last week (The Charm Of Home) celebrating a year of tea, that I thought I’d go back to review all the tea parties I celebrated in 2011.
Sharing teatime on Tuesdays with so many dear friends has been such a blessing. There are quite a few Tuesday Tea Parties, on Wednesday and Thursday too!
I have so enjoyed visiting and being visited by the extraordinary hostesses and participants!
This morning as I was doing my usual routine reviewing and reading emails, I came across Wanda Lee’s email informing that she and Pam (The Plumed Pen, Silken Purse and A Breath of Fresh Air) are taking a blogging break.
I tried to respond, but was unable. These are two talented, remarkable women – a tear came to my eye! I wanted to let them know how much they have come to mean to me. Their graciousness and talent clearly came through each week. I pray God’s richest blessings for them and hope to hear from them from time to time and for their some day return.
Did you ever conceive how blogging might affect your life or the people you’d come across that though you have never physically met them – you have met them on a plane of understanding that touched you deeply? So many of you have deeply touched my heart. I feel so enriched by your presence in my life – I have tried harder to fulfill my ‘toujours’ pledge and I feel as a result this has uplifted my family and me.

So, this is dedicated to Wanda Lee and Pam as well as to all of you Delightsome blogging friends.
You can click the date to view the post.

















I am sharing this post with these Delightsome Tea Parties:



Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday 
Martha's Favorite Teacup Tuesday 
Artful Affirmations Teacup Tuesday
Sweetology's Tea Time Tuesday
Antiques and Teacups Tuesday's Cuppa Tea
Miss Spencer's Teacup Thursday






Bernideen's Friends Sharing Tea








Monday, January 2, 2012

Quiet Moments

Posted by MAKMU ta On Monday, January 02, 2012

Tea and Contemplation




I continue to clear away the Christmas décor, clean and replace with things that to me are ideal for wintertime – winter whites. I find them serene.


It is early afternoon and I have my stack of January Victoria magazines nearby, so I decided to take a light tea break.
The January issues are so full of beauty and inspiration – as are all the other month’s issues.


For my tea, I have chosen my crisp white teapot 


and a new, cute teacup I found at The Christmas Tree store.
 It is so sweet and delicate.


After all the holiday feasting, my snack time needs are more nutritious and light – a crisp green apple is so delightful and refreshing.


For my tea, I have chosen a Blueberry-Acai Green Tea. It is so fragrant – it is relaxing as well as delicious.


I have several Narcisus blooming in my garden – their little, white star-like appearance is so cheerful on this blustery wintry day.


There is much wonder in the year before us, 



I am so glad to share these quiet moments with you and with these Delightsome Tea Parties:





Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday
The Plumed Pen's Tea for Two
Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday
Martha's Favorite Teacup Tuesday
A Breath of Fresh Air's
and Silken Purse's
Artful Affirmations Teacup Tuesday
Sweetology's Tea Time Tuesday
Faded Charm's White Wednesday




Miss Spencer's Teacup Thursday






Bernideen's Friends Sharing Tea






Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Tea Time

Posted by MAKMU ta On Tuesday, December 27, 2011


Ginger Pound Cake


 

While looking through my Victoria Christmas books for ideas and recipes, I came across this delightful pound cake recipe. My husband is a great fan of pound cake and I thought it would be nice to have for a wonderful afternoon tea.


The recipe is in The Heart of Christmas. I found it to be refreshing. My husband would like more of a ginger flavor, so when I make it next, I will double the ginger and double the recipe to get
a taller cake. As is, the cake has a light note, a fragrance of ginger.
It goes wonderfully with a spiced tea.


Ginger Pound Cake

Pound Cake:
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 ¼ cups sifted cake flour

Glaze:
½ cup ginger currant wine (or grate fresh ginger
in ½ cup warmed cream sherry for 30 minutes – I had neither,
so I made a ginger sugar syrup – this may be why my
cake was lighter in flavor)
2 tablespoons sugar
crystallized ginger slices, for garnish

To make the Pound Cake:

1.   Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour a 6 cup fluted black tube pan.
2.   In the medium bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until very light.
3.   In a large bowl, using clean beaters beat the eggs, sugar, and ground ginger at high speed for 6 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is light and fluffy. Using a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula, gently but thoroughly fold in the sifted flour.
4.   With the mixer at low speed, gradually blend in the butter. Do not mix for more than 30 seconds but continue to blend in the butter by folding gently with a wooden spoon. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
5.   Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool the cake in the pan or on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool on a rack for 30 minutes.

To make the Glaze:

1.   in a small saucepan combine the wine with the sugar. Heat over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves.
2.   Put the cake on a serving platter and pierce small holes with a wooden skewer or fork on the fluted side. Slowly pour the glaze over the cake and cool completely. Wrap in plastic wrap and let the cake stand overnight to soak up the glaze.
3.   Before serving, decorate the cake with crystallized ginger.



For Breakfast



I used my new Gracie China cup with flowers and butterflies given to me by my son. Each year, our dear friend gifts us with a wonderful Butter Christmas Stollen. It is wonderful with a rich cup of coffee. Christmas has now passed. All have returned to their regular routines, the house is quiet. But, in these quiet moments I can still hear the warm sounds of my husband’s and children’s laughter, the warmth of the love we shared spending Christmas together this year.


What a wonderful gift – memories – may yours be warm and comforting this day.





I am sharing this post with these Delightsome blog parties: 

Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday
The Plumed Pen's Tea for Two
Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday



Martha's Favorite Teacup Tuesday

A Breath of Fresh Air's
and Silken Purse's
Artful Affirmations Teacup Tuesday
Sweetology's Tea Time Tuesday



Miss Spencer's Teacup Thursday
Bernideen's Friends Sharing Tea




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